BY DAPO AKINREFON
MRS Abike Dabiri-Erewa represents Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and is  chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa

Mrs Dabiri, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in this chat speaks on the politics of Lagos, state of the Freedom of Information bill and why she is seeking a re-election among others. Excerpts:

The ACN in Ikorodu recently lost an election to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Do you think the party is now united to win election in that constituency?

Actually, that is a thing of the past, we had a stakeholders’ meeting some few days ago and it was successful. What happens in politics is that no matter the difference, once your candidates have emerged, you put your differences aside.

Whatever the leadership issue in Ikorodu has since been resolved and we are working together. There have been tremendous support and we know that it will be a landslide victory, not only in Ikorodu, but in Lagos State.

Nobody can do everything but there have been tremendous appreciation. There is still a lot to be done; the major issue in Ikorodu will be the issue of roads and we know that Governor Babatunde Fashola has promised that in his second term, he will do a lot of work on Ikorodu roads. In fact, work has started on several roads.

Don’t you think that alleged poor performances of some elected ACN representatives may affect the party’s fortunes at the April polls?

It is relative, there are areas where they commend local chairmen and there are areas where they condemn them. Whatever the issues are, they have been addressed. We know what we have to do; but most importantly and relatively speaking, ACN as a government, in all arms, has done well and what people should do, is to encourage the party by voting to ensure that we continue wherever we have stopped.

Though the Senate and the House of Representatives have passed the Freedom of Information bill, what do you make of fears that the powers of the bill have been whittled down?

We don’t have a FoI Bill yet. There is the Senate and House of Representatives versions of the bill. There will be a harmonisation committee to look at both versions and come up with a harmonised copy.

So, without a harmonised copy, you really cannot say this is the bill. As soon as we resume sitting, I’m sure the harmonisation committee will get to work and come up with one version of the FoI Bill. It is going to be a give and take situation. But what matters most is that we should have a bill that will make it possible for Nigerians to have access to information.

How soon do you think the harmonised version will be passed?

We are on recess now for one month. The Senate already has a harmonisation committee, the House will set up theirs as soon as we resume sitting and I can assure you that it will not take long to work on the harmonised version.

What are you going to be doing differently if re elected?

I will continue from where I stopped, I will give an even better representation. Some people say why third term? It’s because the constitution allows you to do as many terms as long as your party nominates you to win your elections.

Secondly the National Assembly is the weakest arm of government and the main reason for this is lack of continuity, you find very brilliant and efficient members who do not come back again because somebody somewhere doesn’t want them in the name of internal democracy and we have lost so many good hands.

I am opportuned and humbled that my party felt I have done relatively well to return and represent my constituency. I am obligated to do more to ensure that I effectively represent the interests of Ikorodu, Lagos state and Nigeria.

I will also try to ensure that we churn out bills touch the lives of Nigerians. All you hear is money talk which is exaggerated but let’s leave that for now and hope that by the time we go into the next dispensation hopefully there will be an FOI bill which will ensure transparency and give better information into whatever is going on in government.

I want to attract more federal government presence to my area, certain things we do including giving scholarships which are not the primary roles of a lawmaker but you cannot see poverty around you and not do anything. You cannot see a child not go to school because of N10,000 and do nothing.

There is talk about according Lagos State a special status. How are you going to achieve this?
As the Chairman of the House Committee on the Diaspora, I meet a lot of Nigerians all over and they say Lagos is giving them hope.. Lagos has shown that governance can work; Lagos has enjoyed the continuity trend from the foundation laid by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu built on by Fashola.

I am hopeful that as we move into a new parliament we will continue to pursue it and gather more support from other South-West states because Lagos is the economic centre of Nigeria. Lagos is working and attracting investors to Nigeria. She is the hope of the country and deserves the special status and we are going to fight for it not just alone but with the support of every member of the National Assembly.